March 24, 2014
Listen to a NBAA Flight Plan podcast for more on IBAC’s plans in the region.
The International Business Aviation Council (IBAC) is hitting the road next month, hoping to forge alliances with business aircraft operators in several key venues, including 2014 the Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (ABACE2014).
On April 14, the day before ABACE2014 officially gets underway in Shanghai, China, IBAC, NBAA and the Asian Business Aviation Association will be among the sponsors of a half-day safety stand down, according to IBAC Director General Kurt Edwards.
“We’re going to look at a number of issues like ADS-B in and out, ELT requirements and performance-based navigation,” Edwards said. “We’re not trying to cram three days of information into three hours, but rather, we’re trying to raise awareness of mandates.”
ABACE2014 takes place April 15 to 17, but the safety session at that event is only the beginning of IBAC’s efforts in the region. The following week, Edwards and others within the organization will meet with business aircraft operators in Singapore, Hong Kong and Jakarta to talk about issues that range from safety to regulation. It is part of a larger effort by IBAC to interface with Asian operators.
“Everyone agrees that business aviation is growing fastest in the Asia-Pacific region,” Edwards explained. “Recognizing that, we need to start creating networks of information sharing and coordination. That’s part of the role IBAC fulfills at a global level and AsBAA fulfills for the region.”
IBAC is a confederation of business aviation associations from around the world. Based in Montreal, Canada, it represents business aviation interests at the international level, especially before the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the agency of the United Nations that establishes international aviation regulations.
Edwards said he hopes IBAC will be able to establish relationships with Asian business aircraft operators and encourage them to participate in the International Standard for Business Aircraft Operations (IS-BAO), as well as work cooperatively on regulatory issues that impact local and international travel.
“What we’d like to do is begin creating a community of operators within the region, such that we can all work together to influence policy decisions,” he said. “Especially in a region where aviation policy is still evolving, what we’re doing is creating a place where we as an industry can inform business aircraft operators and, at the same time, let officials understand the needs of business operators.
“IBAC leaders really want to do more work with regional and local associations,” Edwards added. ”It’s arecognition of industry growth and maturity in the region.
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.